Frequently
Asked Questions

Contact us to get started. Whether you already know what kind of help you’re looking for, or just want to ask a few questions, we are here for you. We offer options for complementary calls first with our TPC care team or a registered mental health therapist or to book your first appointment directly online.

During your first psychotherapy appointment you will have a chance to discuss your needs, get an idea of how therapy can help you, and see if your therapist is a match for you. No therapy approach can be successful without a strong and  trusting alliance between the client and the therapist.

A real person will respond within 1 business day to all inquiries. Call us on a weekday (Monday to Friday) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST (excluding weekends and Ontario statutory holidays). Contact us to get started.

Yes, we have several experienced therapists who are accepting new clients for all service types – individual therapy, couple therapy, family therapy, parent skills training, and psychological assessments. Check out our Teams Page to learn more about therapists at Toronto Psychology Clinic.

You do not need a referral from your doctor prior to coming to Toronto Psychology Clinic. However, some insurance companies may require a referral from your doctor in order for you to be reimbursed for expenses.

There is no waitlist for therapy and most psychological assessments. Some specific assessments or therapists may have a short waitlist (>2 months).

Absolutely! Our intake team is trained by our Clinic Director to help identify your needs and match you with a therapist. We also understand that you might not ‘click’ with every therapist so if you don’t feel they’re a right fit, we’re happy to help you explore alternatives to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with.

We also encourage you to read our blog post, ‘How do I find the right therapist?’ for more information on choosing a therapist.

You don’t need to know which therapy approach is right for you before getting started. While you may have heard of approaches such as CBT, EFT, DBT, or psychodynamic therapy, the most effective approach depends on your concerns, goals, personality, and preferred way of working. At Toronto Psychology Clinic, our therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based approaches and tailor treatment to your unique needs.

Book a free, 15-min intake call here to learn more – or you can also check out our blog post, How Do I Know Which Therapy Approach Is Right for Me?.

Absolutely! You can book online with your preferred therapist at this link here.

Yes, we offer free, 15-min intake calls both with our intake team linked here and with our therapists linked here.

Yes, we offer therapy via video calls for all residents of Ontario and Alberta using secure, encrypted online video software that you can use on your computer, tablet or phone.

Yes, we offer in-person sessions at our clinic at 2 Carlton St. near Yonge & College in downtown Toronto.

Our clinic is located in downtown Toronto near Yonge & College at 2 Carlton St., Unit 1803, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1J3

For detailed instructions on where to find us including details about parking, bicycles, and TTC, click here.

The first few sessions are about getting to know you, building trust, and aligning on your goals. They include an assessment that allows us to identify the problem, the source of the problem and the best treatment option for you. Immediate results aren’t always the norm. You need to feel safe and understood before real progress happens. That said, these initial sessions are still therapeutic as they give you a chance to learn more about yourself, your needs, and where you want to go.

Psychotherapy sessions are typically booked for 50 minutes and we usually recommend weekly sessions although this depends on the presenting issue, as a client’s goals may require more or less time.

Many people like to know in advance how many sessions will be required given the time and cost involved in attending therapy. This is difficult to anticipate as it is different for each client, and requires an initial consultation to be able to advise you on this.

For many clients, we typically see the following:

• First few sessions: get to know you, assess your needs, build trust, and align on your goals. You start to learn about yourself more deeply than you have before.
• Sessions 10-20: A period of early skill-building and reframing; many clients start to notice meaningful change at this stage.
• Longer term (3-4+ months weekly): Clients are able to break long-standing patterns and habits, learn powerful new skills and overall see a deeper, more permanent change.

The research shows that it is not just the number but frequency of appointments that impacts outcomes. Weekly appointments are most optimal to start.

Treatment is voluntary to you and you can terminate treatment at any time with no consequences to you financially or otherwise. We strongly encourage clients to discuss if they feel treatment is not working so that we can either address the issue by changing the therapy approach or perhaps recommend you to another clinic or resource.

Our fees for psychotherapy range from $160-$320 depending on designation and years of experience with higher fees for large family sessions. Psychological assessment fees vary depending on type of assessment; we would provide you with an estimated quote during an intake call with a psychologist. Our fees are in line with industry standards.

Fees for our registered health professionals are considered uninsured medical expenses that qualify for medical tax credits.

We require all clients to add a valid credit card on file, and payment is processed by your therapist after each session.

Many extended health care plans and employment health insurance plans cover the cost of services with registered psychologists/psychological associates, psychotherapists, and social workers.

We bill clients directly and they receive a receipt with the information required to submit their claims to their insurance company for reimbursement.

We don’t offer direct billing at this time.

No, services at Toronto Psychology Clinic are not covered by OHIP. Many major extended health benefit/insurance plans reimburse for mental health services.

Psychotherapy (also called counselling or talk therapy) focuses on helping you improve your mental health, cope with challenges, develop new skills, improve your relationships, and create
meaningful change in your life. Therapy is an ongoing process that typically involves regular sessions with a therapist.

A psychological assessment is an evaluation process used to better understand symptoms, diagnoses, learning needs, personality traits, cognitive abilities, or behavioural concerns. Assessments often include interviews, questionnaires, standardized testing, and a written report often leading to a formal mental health diagnosis. Common assessments include depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, ASD, and psychoeducation.

Toronto Psychology Clinic offers both psychotherapy and psychological assessments. Contact us to get started.

Psychological assessments are completed by a Psychologist or Psychological Associate.

General structure for most, but not all, assessments:

• Start with a free 15min intake call with the clinician to determine if a full assessment is appropriate.
• If so, they will book you for a 1–2hr initial consultation
• Followed by several testing sessions (typically in 2-hour blocks) and online surveys
• After testing, your clinician prepares a report
• After the report, the clinician meets with you for a 1hr feedback session.

All sessions are billed at $300/hour. The standard report fee is $1,200 for reports up to 12 pages. If a report fee will be less than or more than the standard rate, the therapist will discuss this with you.

Contact us to get started.

Please be advised that our clinic does not provide psychological assessments or reports for:

• Child custody or family court matters
• Criminal or civil court evaluations
• Immigration-related assessments
• Neuropsychological assessments (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injuries)

Psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers are not trained or licensed to prescribed medications. We frequently work in collaboration with other healthcare providers such as your family physician or psychiatrist who are prescribing and managing your medications.

Some people’s mental health issues may be at the point where they need medications and cannot benefit from psychotherapy alone. Many mental health professionals who prescribe medications do not have the time or extensive training to provide effective psychotherapy. Seeking psychotherapy with a psychologist in conjunction with taking medications can substantially improve your prognosis.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support administrative and clinical documentation processes, such as scheduling, document management, and optional AI-assisted note-taking. While AI is never used for clinical decision-making, therapy, or diagnosis, in some cases, audio may be securely transcribed during sessions using privacy-compliant tools like Jane AI Scribe. These tools process, but do not retain or use, personal health information, and comply with all relevant privacy laws and best practices. Your clinician will always discuss the use of AI beforehand with you.

If you have any concerns about the use of AI tools or would prefer that your clinician not use them, please discuss this with your clinician so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

Seeking help is a very personal matter and we take your privacy very seriously. The effectiveness of therapy relies on people feeling safe when speaking with their therapist. All registered therapists have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain confidentiality of their clients by not disclosing any information about the therapy session to third parties without the client’s permission. We do however have a legal responsibility to disclose certain information if it comes up during our work with a client in order to protect the client and the public. Our confidentiality policies are reviewed with you prior to your beginning treatment at the clinic.

Absolutely! You can receive therapy and assessment services at any clinic of your choosing. You should check that the person delivering your care is a licensed professional. All therapists at Toronto Psychology Clinic are registered with the province’s regulatory colleges.

Yes, our office is wheelchair accessible.

We are also happy to provide other accommodations for other disabilities as appropriate. Please let us know your accommodation needs when booking.

Please note we are only available by appointment only and do not accept drop-ins. However, several of our therapists do offer same-day booking. Contact us to get started.

Psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and social workers can all provide psychotherapy. Their training and licensing requirements are different. One designation is not necessarily “better” than another. What matters most is which individual therapist is right for you and your goals, and whose schedule allows you to make consistent progress.

Social Workers:

• Complete a Master’s degree in social work that covers a broad field including psychotherapy, case management, policy, and advocacy
• Have a strong foundation in psychosocial, anti-oppressive, and systems frameworks
• Can provide assessments but not diagnostic psychological assessments that lead to a mental health diagnosis
• Are often well-suited for clients dealing with complex life circumstances, relationships, and social systems

Psychotherapists:

• Complete a Master’s degree with a sole focus on psychotherapy
• Are not required to participate in research for their license and don’t do assessments
• Often charge less than psychologists, which can reduce barriers to attending more frequent sessions

Psychologists:

• Complete either a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in psychology
• Are qualified by law to provide a mental health diagnosis which is a controlled act
• Have the most extensive training in assessment and mental health diagnosis, and the majority of research and development of effective psychotherapy approaches are
  conducted by psychologists.
• After their degree, they complete a minimum of one year of practice under the supervision of a psychologist before being licensed as an autonomously practicing psychologist.

Psychiatrists:

• Are medical doctors who complete 4 years of medical school followed by a residency in psychiatry where they receive training in medication management, diagnosis and
  psychotherapy for a range of mental health disorders.
• Are qualified by law to provide a mental health diagnosis which is a controlled act
• Are qualified by law to prescribe medications.

Both psychologists and psychiatrists are legally allowed to provide a mental health diagnosis. Making a diagnosis is a legally regulated act. Making the right diagnosis is important as the wrong diagnosis can have a harmful impact on a person.

Your feedback is incredibly important to us. We’re committed to providing the best possible care, and your insights help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. You can complete the following anonymous surveys to share feedback about your experience at Toronto Psychology Clinic:

• Survey about our intake services (chance to win $50 gift certificate)
• Form to contact the Clinic Director directly

Contact us at 416-551-1759 ext.2 or via email at intake@torontopsychology.com